RAWALPINDI: As crackdown on Afghan Citizen Card holders and illegal foreigners continues in Rawalpindi-Islamabad, the police have chalked out a revised security plan for Afghan refugees being kept in camps near Golra Mor.

On the other hand, as many as 1,134 Afghans had been rounded up by the law enforcement agencies during ongoing campaigns against Afghan Citizen Card holders and illegal foreigners in the twin cities of Rawalpindi-Islamabad so far.

However, 16 of them brought to the camps had been missing.

According to sources, of the 1,134 Afghans brought to the refugees camp near Golra Mor, 377 were citizen card holders, including 278 males, 94 female and five children .

Of the 377 ACC card holders, 352 individuals, including 261 male, 86 female and five children were deported back to their home country while 25 persons, including 17 male and eight female were still being held in the camp.

Likewise, as many as 817 illegal Afghans, including 399 male, 132 female and 286 children were shifted to the Afghan refugees holding camp near Golra Mor. Of the 817 individuals, 782 illegal Afghans, including 375 male, 128 female and 279 children were deported, while 19 illegal immigrants were being kept in the camp.

In the light of security situation, the Rawalpindi district police on Wednesday chalked out a comprehensive security plan to strengthen security around the Afghan refugees holding centre near Golra More with deployment of more than 40 police personnel, led by SP Potohar Division to avert any untoward incident.

The police personnel will be deployed in three shifts as the special branch staff will conduct sweeping, searching and scanning with sniffer dogs and will get clearance certificates from the Special Branch.

All the people entering inside the camp would be subjected to search.

As part of the security, the mobile phones of all Afghan nationals brought to the camp will be given to the mobile collection desk and would only be returned when they will be repatriated or released after verification.

Shift in-charge inspector will ensure that no one would be keeping a mobile phone with him during detention.

The Deputy Commissioner office will be responsible for making arrangements of erecting barbed wire and installation of CCTV cameras. They will also ensure the presence of ambulances and water tankers.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025